Parc occupies the southeast corner of Rittenhouse Square and does one thing exceptionally well: it is a French brasserie that actually functions like a French brasserie — open all day, comfortable for a coffee and a croissant in the morning or a full dinner in the evening, with a menu that stays faithful to the classics (moules marinières, steak frites, croque monsieur, tarte tatin) without condescending to them. The service is professional without being stiff. The wine list is long and fairly priced.
The terrace is the main attraction in warmer months: a broad sidewalk café that faces the square, perfect for the long Philadelphia summer evenings when the park fills with people and the light on the trees is golden. Parc is Stephen Starr's best restaurant, which is saying something in a city where his group has been the dominant force in mid-to-upscale dining for two decades. Reservations are recommended for dinner; walk-ins at the bar are usually possible. It is one of those rare restaurants that works equally well for a weekday lunch alone or a celebratory Saturday dinner.